Amy Klobuchar on Free Trade

DFL Sr Senator (MN)

I will fight for fair trade

I will fight for fair trade, not just free trade. International trade can provide access to important new markets for Minnesota’s products, and it is crucial to our state’s future prosperity.
But our businesses must have fair access to these markets and we must have a level playing field for our farmers and workers. I will insist that labor and environmental standards be a part of the trade agreements we negotiate with other countries.

Opposes CAFTA

I will fight to get better trade deals for Minnesota than what we got in the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Back in April, I announced my opposition to CAFTA because of provisions that would harm the 30,000 Minnesotans who work in the
sugar industry and because of inadequate provisions for environmental and labor fairness. Hard-working Minnesotans deserve an even playing field in the global market?and they deserve leaders in Congress who will put their interests first.

Voted NO on promoting free trade with Peru.

Approves the Agreement entered into with the government of Peru. Provides for the Agreement's entry into force upon certain conditions being met on or after January 1, 2008. Prescribes requirements for:

Rep. RANGEL: It's absolutely ridiculous to believe that we can create jobs without trade. I had the opportunity to travel to Peru recently. I saw firsthand how important this agreement is to Peru and how this agreement will strengthen an important ally of ours in that region. Peru is resisting the efforts of Venezuela's authoritarian President Hugo Chavez to wage a war of words and ideas in Latin America against the US. Congress should acknowledge the support of the people of Peru and pass this legislation by a strong margin.

Opponents recommend voting NO because:

Rep. WU: I regret that I cannot vote for this bill tonight because it does not put human rights on an equal footing with environmental and labor protections.

Rep. KILDEE: All trade agreements suffer from the same fundamental flaw: They are not self-enforcing. Trade agreements depend upon vigorous enforcement, which requires official complaints be made when violations occur. I have no faith in President Bush to show any enthusiasm to enforce this agreement. Congress should not hand this administration yet another trade agreement because past agreements have been more efficient at exporting jobs than goods and services. I appeal to all Members of Congress to vote NO on this. But I appeal especially to my fellow Democrats not to turn their backs on those American workers who suffer from the export of their jobs. They want a paycheck, not an unemployment check.

Extend trade restrictions on Burma to promote democracy.

A joint resolution approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003. The original act sanctioned the ruling military junta, and recognized the National League of Democracy as the legitimate representative of the Burmese people.

Insist on access to post-mad-cow Japanese beef markets.

RESOLUTION Supporting increased market access for exports of United States beef and beef products to Japan.

Whereas, in 2003, Japan was the largest market for US beef, with exports valued at $1,400,000,000;

Whereas, after the discovery of 1 Canadian-born cow infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy ([known as "mad cow disease"] or BSE) disease in Dec. 2003, Japan closed its market to US beef, and still restricts access to a large number of safe US beef products;

Whereas for years the US has developed and implemented a multilayered system of interlocking safeguards to ensure the safety of US beef, and after the 2003 discovery, the US implemented further safeguards to ensure beef safety;

Whereas a 2006 study by the USDA found that BSE was virtually nonexistent in the US;

Whereas, from 2004 through 2009, US beef exports to Japan averaged roughly $196,000,000, less than 15% of the amount the US sold to Japan in 2003, causing significant losses for
US cattle producers; and

Whereas, while Japan remains an important trading partner of the US, this unscientific trade restriction is not consistent with fair trade practices, nor with US treatment of Japanese imports:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--

it is not in the interest of either the US or Japan to arbitrarily restrict market access for their close partners;

trade between the US and Japan should be conducted with mutual respect and based on sound science;

since banning US beef in Dec. 2003, Japan has not treated US beef producers fairly;

both Japan and the US should comply with guidelines based on sound science;

Japan should immediately expand market access for US exporters of both bone-in and boneless beef beyond the existing standard of beef from cattle 20 months and younger; and

the President should insist on increased access for US exporters of beef and beef products to the market in Japan.